The Chinese Embassy in Nigeria has pledged to participate in the 45th anniversary of the Festival for Arts and Culture (FESTAC ‘77) slated for December 5 to December 11 in Abuja.

Li Xuda, Cultural Counsellor of the Chinese Embassy and Director of the Chinese Cultural Centre, gave the assurance when delegates of the Centre for Black and African Arts and Civilisation (CBAAC) paid a courtesy visit to the Chinese Embassy on Thursday in Abuja.

Oluwabunmi Amao, Director-General of CBAAC, organisers of FESTAC ‘77 at 45, said this in a statement made available to the media on Friday.

Mr Xuda expressed enthusiasm for the event, and assured CBAAC of the support and full participation of the Chinese Embassy in Nigeria.

Harping on the similarities in the cultures of Nigeria and China, Mr Xuda said this could be seen in the areas of cuisine, arts and dance.

Earlier, Mrs Amao stated her intention to fully intimate the Chinese Ambassador on plans for FESTAC ‘77 45th anniversary commemoration.

She said the visit was also to seek the full participation of the Chinese Embassy and community in Nigeria for the cultural mundial scheduled to hold at the Eagle Square and the International Conference Centre, Abuja.

She said China had one of the largest communities of foreign nationals in Nigeria and FESTAC ‘77 at 45 offers a veritable avenue to promote people-to-people cultural exchanges between the two countries.

Other members of the Chinese team present at the meeting included Wang Guiping, First Secretary for Cultural and Education Affairs and Liang Huili, Second Secretary, Information, Public Relations Affairs.

The CBAAC director-general was accompanied by Henrietta Nwoye, Head, Finance and Accounts and Manji Diyal, Coordinator for FESTAC ‘77 at 45.

(NAN)